Bishop Milan Lach, Parma's new apostolic administrator

Pope Francis has named Auxiliary Bishop, Milan Lach, SJ, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Prešov, Slovakia, as the new apostolic administrator of the sede vacante (vacant see) of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma.

According to the statement, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, in a letter dated June 21, 2017, announced that Pope Francis is relieving Archbishop William C. Skurla of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh from the pastoral governance of the Eparchy of Parma.

Bishop Emeritus John Kudrick resigned as the bishop of Parma May 7, 2016.

Bishop Lach was born in Kezmarok, Slovakia, Nov. 18, 1973. He was ordained a priest of the Society of Jesus (commonly known as the Jesuits) July 1, 2001, and was ordained to the episcopacy to serve as auxiliary bishop of Presov 12 years later, June 1, 2013. Bishop Lach is fluent in English, among several languages.

The 43-year-old Byzantine Catholic Jesuit is the first European-born bishop to be appointed to oversee the Eparchy of Parma since its founding in 1969.

Please see www.parma.orgover the next few days and weeks for updates and additional information on the appointment.